“I know because I played under him for five years and know exactly what he is like. I’ve said before the highest compliment I can give him is that he is one of the best managers I’ve ever played under. I can only give you my opinion.”

Asked what it was like ‘getting one over on’ O’Neill, Lambert replied: “I think that it is disrespectful to say that.

“I’ve got the utmost respect for the gaffer and I’m not in a position to say I got one over him or anything like that.

“I’m a football manager and I want to win. I want Aston Villa to win. I thought we were really, really fine.

“Whenever you get beat it’s a tough job. If there is one person who can turn it round it will be him.

“They threw everything at us. I know the sort of team the gaffer has got. He has some really top players here. I knew they would come at us. But I thought we deserved to win the game.”